‘All sorts.’ I quickly brought up a photo of my fuzzy pup and showed him.
He took the phone. ‘Oh, he’s so gorgeous! And what a great name!’
‘See? That’s what I think,’ I said, accepting the phone back, ‘but my friend, Seb, gives me grief about it all the time.’
‘And who’s Seb?’
‘Seb is the man who’s perfect for her!’ Jess interjected as she swung herself onto the seat next to us.
‘Ignore her. Seb is just a good friend.’
‘More than that.’
‘He is not.’
‘So why isn’t he here?’
‘One, we’re just friends.’
‘He could still learn.’
‘Fair enough. And he probably would give it a go.’
‘Really?’ Jess asked, a hint of surprise in her voice and I knew why.
‘Yes. He doesn’t let his injury stop him trying anything.’
‘So why isn’t he here?’ Andy asked again.
‘He lives miles away.’
‘No distance is too much for love,’ Jess swooned.
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake. All that Latin music and those last two cocktails have addled your brain.’ I slurped up the last of my own mocktail, twirling its tiny paper umbrella as I did so.
‘Not at all. I’m the one who sees things clearly now.’
‘No, you are the one in gushy, romantic love and it colours everything you see,’ I said, gently.
‘I think you’d be surprised.’
‘I would.’
Andy gave me a grin as, on the bar, my phone began to ring. Seb’s picture showed on the screen.
‘My, my! Who’s that?’ asked Mario as he and Harry joined our conversation, peering over Andy’s shoulder at the phone.
‘That’s Seb!’ Jess pointed, excitedly, almost bouncing in her seat. ‘See, I told you?’
I juggled the phone and quickly answered, trying to angle myself in a way that would prevent everyone seeing Seb’s ridiculously good looking face smile slightly crookedly from my phone screen. ‘Hi, I’m just in the middle of something. Can I call you back in a bit?’
‘Sure.’ He paused for a beat and I saw his eyes take in the background. ‘Oh sorry, I didn’t realise you were going out after the class.’
‘No. I didn’t know I was. Kind of a last minute thing with some others from the class.’
At this, the other four crowded round me and waved at the screen. Seb gave an unsure wave back as I rolled my eyes and wriggled away to a quieter spot.
‘Oh, right. OK. Great. That’s good. Looks like you enjoyed it.’
